What Kind of Christmas Do You Want This Year?

I’m sure your mailbox looks a lot like mine this time of year — full of catalogs from every retailer you can imagine. I usher those catalogs directly into the recycling bin lest our kids get their hands on them and my house is overcome with chorus after chorus of “I want” set to the music of pen circling and pages being dog-eared.

And it’s really not just for my kids’ sake. When I flip through those pages, I too become aware of all of the alluring items that promise to make my life, better, prettier, easier, or more comfortable. I begin my own chorus of “I want! I want!”

The fact is, we are created to want. Desire is written within us. But, as Christmas approaches, I can get caught up in the lights, storefronts, ribbons, and wrapping paper and overlook the One who is to be the object of my desire, the One to whom I should declare my praises — and the One whom we are celebrating at Christmas.

As intentional as I have been about keeping the season centered on Jesus, our culture has made Christmas a celebration of “I want” — gluttony masked as observance of the greatest Gift we’ve ever received.

And while I love giving and receiving presents, I’m not sure Jesus wants that to be the focus of His birthday.

I know He doesn’t.

Jesus only says “I want” one time in the entire Bible. One time. That’s it. And do you know how He spends His “I want”?

Jesus spends His “I want” on you and me — those who have been given to Him by the Father. Jesus prays:

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory You have given me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.” {John 17:24}

I can hear the longing as He prays.

Jesus longs for you and for me. He has everything He could ever want or need in the whole wide universe. He has all of God’s glory. And still, He expresses a desire. His deep desire is to have us with Him.

Jesus is not lonely — He is in perfect relationship with God and the Holy Spirit, and yet He wants companionship with His followers. That’s us. That’s us! He left all the comforts of heaven to come get us, and He wants us with Him.

Better than getting everything you could ever want in any store or catalog, is knowing and resting in the blessed reminder that you are His gift from the Father {John 17:6} and you are wanted.

When the hustle and bustle of the season leaves you worn out, remember, you are wanted.

When you wonder if you’ll live up to expectations of others, remember, you are wanted.

When loneliness covers you like a shroud while everyone else seems to have loved ones gathered near, remember, you are wanted.

Oh, that our “I want” at Christmas would be reserved for Jesus. Let us not squeeze Him in between the busyness of the season. But let’s make this a season of leaning into Him and finding more and more reasons to love Him — a joyful journey that has no end.

That’s the kind of Christmas I want.

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Related: Devote this Christmas to seeking Christ and celebrate His coming with this memorable set of Three Wise Kings by Willow Tree.